Toy boat with separate compartment for battery and motor

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a power driven toy boat, the power plant of which is accommodated within the hull of the body. For this purpose a housing containing an electric motor driving a propeller and a battery for energizing the motor are provided. This housing is insertable into an opening extending crosswise through the hull of the boat and is retained therein by selfengaging shoulders on the housing and the wall of the opening. The housing is sealed off except for an opening to permit exchange of the battery or repairs. This opening which is closable by a lid, is above water when the boat is floating so that there is no danger of leakage of water into the housing. A switch is provided on the lid to actuate the motor.

United States Patent [19'] Brandst'zitter TOY BOAT WITH SEPARATE July 23, 1974 [54] 4 3,528,195 9/1970 Cooper .J. 46/93 X COMPARTMENT FOR BATTERY AND 3,570,179 3/1971 Yamakawa MOTOR 3,611,632 10/1971 Smith 46/216 X [75] Inventor: Horst Brandstiitter, Zirndorf, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany 647,628 10/1962 ltaly 46/244 R 73] Assignee: Georg Brandstatter, Zirndorf, Primary Ban-y h Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hane, Baxley & Spiecens [22] Filed: vJuly 25,1973

[57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 382593 There is disclosed a power driven toy boat, the power Related US. Application Data plant of which is accommodated within the hull of the [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 161,043, July 9, Q For purpose a housmg comammg an elec 1971, abandoned. tric motor dnving a propeller and a battery for energizing the motor are provided. This housing is insert- 52 US. Cl. 46/243 Mv, 46/93, 46/243 E able into an Opening extending crosswise through the 51 Int. Cl A63h 23/04 hull of the boat and is retained therein y self- 5g Field f Search 4 243 y 243 AV, 243 v engaging shoulders on the housing and the wall of the 46/243 1) 2 E, 4 c 206 93 opening. The housing is sealed off except for an open- 7 ing to permit exchange of the battery or repairs. This 5 R f e Cited opening which is closable by a lid, is above water UNITED STATES PATENTS when the boat is floating so that there is no danger of 4 leakage of water intothe housing. A switch is pro- ZZTZZSZ 13x32? git ig "M x 3x2 vided on the lid to actuate the motor. 3,418,751 12/1968 Malgughi 46/243 MV 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 42 /8 1 /2a fl 4 I I 1- 1 J y i a 7 C 4 /2 /e 77 /4 1, TOY BOAT WITH SEPARATE COMPARTMENT FOR BATTERY AND MOTOR The present application is 'a continuation-in-part application based on my copending application Ser. No. 161,043 filed July 9,1971, now abandoned.

The invention relates to a power driven toy, and more particularly to a power driven watercraft, such as a toy boat.

BACKGROUND There are known power driven toys such as power boats of the general kind above referred to in which a power plant including an electric motor and a battery for driving the motor are mounted in a housing which is secured to the body of the toy such as the hull of a boat or other watercraft. More particularly, there are known boats or other craft in which the power plant is installed in a substantially cylindrical housing which is detachably secured to the outside of the bottom of the hull of the craft, for instance by a suction device. Such an external attachment of the power plant obviously affectsthe efficiency with which the boat is driven through the water; it also reduces the realistic appearance of the boat or other craft. Moreover, it has been found that an externally disposed housing for the motor and the battery is difficult to maintain totally water tight. The power plant is completely submerged in water when installed, and when it hasbeen opened, for instance to replace exhausted batteries, water tight reclosing of the housing is difficult, especially for a playwhich is submerged when the craft is floating in water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforepointed out objects, features and advantages, and other objects, features and advantages which will be pointed out hereinafter are obtained by providing in the body of the toy such as the hull of a watercraft an opening adapted to accommodate the housing of the power plant. From the opening there extends at least the drive element, such as a propeller for use in water. The advantage of this arrangement is that the housing of the drive unit is practically completely accommodated within the body of the toy, without the self-contained nature of the power drive device being lost. The drive unit can thus be removed and replaced as often as required. In the body of the toy there is also sufficient space for making the drive unit sufficiently large for receiving larger and thus more powerful batteries. With this feature the drive of the toy is substantially more economic.

A particularly important feature resides in the fact i that the arrangement of the drive device in an opening ing child. As a result of the afore-pointed out disadvan- THE INVENTION It is a broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improved toy of the general kind above referred to, and more particularly a toy watercraft with a power plant mounted within a housing which is accommodated in a correspondingly shaped opening of the hull of the toy watercraft so that the power plant is within the outlines of the hull and thus does not interfere with the performance of the watercraft in the water.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toy watercraft of the general kind above referred to in which a safe and rapid attachment of the housing of the power plant within the hull opening can be effected by simply pushing the housing into the hull opening from below.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toy watercraft of the general kind above referred to in which reliable retention of the housing of the power plant within a hull opening is obtained by self-engaging protrusions on the housing and the wall of the hull opening, that is, without requiring insertion and tightening of any fastening means Such as ongues, Screws, etc.

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toy watercraft of the general kind above referred to in which exchange of batteries can be effected by uncovering a part of the housing which is above water when the craft is floating and closing the opening after the batteries or other parts are replaced, thereby automatically eliminating the difficulty of water-tight sealing a part of the housing of the toy body also makes for simple operation of the drive as regards switching on and switching off. It also makes possible renewal of the battery, since the parts serving for this purpose in the case of toy drives for watercraft can readily be provided above the water level.

In accordance with a further development of this general principle of the invention, the battery and the electric motor are arranged so as to define approximately a right angle between them in the housing and the housing part containing the motor extends out of the opening of the toy body such as the hull of a boat. The motor part of the housing may extend at least partly into an external recessed part of the hull. This feature is especially important in a boat in order to arrange the battery substantially vertically in the hull of the boat and the electric motor with the propeller shaft parallel to the direction of movement.

In contrast to the previously proposed construction with an external power plant, the arrangement in accordance with the invention provides for the significant advantage that the housing part, which takes up more space and holds the battery, can be accommodated in the hull of the toy boat.

It has been found especially advantageous for the housing to have two flanges which lie respectively against axial ends of the wall of the opening in the toy watercraft body so that one flange is arranged on the detachable lid closing the housing. The housing is inserted from one side into the opening of the hull after removing the lid and by placing the lid in position the housing is closed and held on the other side of the opening. It is not necessary in this respect to use special fastening elements. The mounting of the housing in the opening in the hull of the craft can be still further improved by providing in accordance with a further feature of the invention, protrusions on the outer side of the housing for centering and/or fixing the housing in the opening. These protrusions can be arranged to be held in detent means within the opening so that even when the lid is removed, for instance for replacing the battery, the housing retains its firm position in the opening.

Preferably an on-and-off switch is provided on the lid for the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view, partly in section, of a toy power driven watercraft according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the hull of the watercraft;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view, partly in section, of the hull and the power plant of the watercraft;

FIG. 4 is an elevational cross-sectional view showing the parts of FIG. 3 in assembled position;

FIG; 5 is a plan view of the power plant; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the inside of a detachable lid closing the power plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring now to the drawing figures in detail, and first to FIG. 1, this figure shows the general outline of a power driven toy watercraft according to the invention exemplified as a power boat of the speed boat type.

The exemplified power boat has a hull 1 which is equipped with various components to simulate an actual power boat such as a cowl 2 as protection against splashing water, running lights 3, a rudder 4 and exhaust pipes 5 of the engine. The mid portion of the hull includes an opening 6 extending crosswise through the height of the hull, as it is best shown in FIG. 2, the deck of the hull being otherwise closed off. The opening 6 at its bottom end defines a lengthwise recess 7 extending toward the stern and constituting a propeller shaft tunnel and a channel for channeling theflow of water along the bottom, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The side wall 8 defining opening 6 which is of generally circular outline, has intermediate the deck and the bottom of the hull a protrusion or shoulder 9. The side wall portions above the shoulder and below the shoulder are outwardly slanted toward the deck and the bottom respectively, for a purpose which also will bemore fully explained hereinafter. There is further preferably provided at the lower end of the side wall a peripheral recess 10. A similar peripheral recess 11 may be provided at the top edge of the side wall.

The hull may be made of any suitable material such as sheet metal or plastic, but is it essential for the invention that at least the side wall 8 defining opening 6 is sufficiently flexible and springy to yield to a laterally exerted pressure thereupon, but to spring back into its initial position when the pressure is released.

The power plant of the boat comprises a housing 12 of generally right-angle configuration to define two arm portions 12a and 12b, as can best be seen in FIG. 1. The arm portions 12a and 12b of the housing are disposed upright and horizontally respectively, when the power plant is installed. Housing portion 12b accommodates a suitable electric motor 13, the shaft 14 of which extends through the otherwise closed end of the housing portion 12b and mounts a propeller 15. Housing portion 12a accommodates one or more batteries 16 the terminals of which are connected to motor 13 by contact strips 17 and 18, respectively. A switch for switching on and off the motor will be described in connection with FIG. 6. The upper end of housing portion 12a is open and preferably extended by a part 19. The length of portion 12a plus extension 19 is such that the extension protrudes from the deck of the hull when the power plant is installed. There are provided on the outside wall of housing portion 12a radially protruding fins 20, four such fins being shown by way of example. The outer edge of each fin defines a protrusion or shoulder 21 formed by upper outwardly slanted edge portion 210 on each fin. There is further secured to the housing portion 12a a peripheral outwardly protruding flange 22; a similar flange 23 may be provided at the top edge of each fin. Instead of providing peripheral flanges, flange portions in the form of studs may also be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, mounting of the power plant on the hull, and more specifically within opening 6 of the hull, can be rapidly and simply effected by pushing the power plant into the opening from the bottom side of the hull. The maximal outer diameter of the fins and the minimal inner diameter of opening 6 are so correlated that the upper slanted portion 21a of the fins will press outwardly the lower slanted portion 8a of side wall 8 until shoulders 21 on the fins snap upon shoulder 9 formed on side wall 8 so as to overlie the same. Moreover, the vertical distance between shoulder 9 and recess 11 of the hull and the distance between shoulders 21 and flange 22 on the housing are so correlated that when shoulders 12 overly shoulder 9, flange 22is in engagement with recess 11 thereby securing the housing against upward axial displacement in opening 6.

FIG. 4 clearly shows the power plant in its position fully pushed into opening 6 of the hull. This figure and also FIG. 1 show that housing portion 12b and with it propeller 15 are located in propeller shaft tunnel 7, thereby providing favorable flow conditions for the water-when the propeller is rotating.

As previously mentioned, housing portion 12a is open at its top to facilitate exchange of the battery or batteries when necessary. The open end of the motor housing is normally closed by a lid 25 which will now be more fully described in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6. Thelid has a peripheral flange 29 which rests upon the upper edge of hull opening 6 when the lid is in its position closing housing portion 120. To retain the lid in its closing position, a bayonet lock is provided. This bayonet lock is formed by protrusions 30 on the inside on a protruding rim 31 of the lid and ribs 32 at the upper end of housing portion 12. By suitably turning lid 25 protrusions 30 and ribs 32 can be moved into and contact spring 18 so that the circuit for motor 13 is closed. Turning of the knob in the opposite direction opens the connection and thus stops the motor. In order to assure that spring 50 maintains a desired one of its two extreme positions, a detent arm 55 engages a detent notch 56.

The arrangement of the motor and the battery in a common housing permits placement of all electric connections for the motor and the battery in the housing which is reliably sealed off by the lid thereby making unnecessary outside soldering connections which are notoriously expensive and at the same time practically eliminating the danger of short circuits due to penetrating water.

The afore-described very simple and yet reliable installation of the entire power plant in an opening within the hull also permits dimensioning of the housing so that sufficiently large and powerful batteries can be placed in the housing thereby assuring an economic and long-lasting arrangement of the toy boat without replacing the batteries.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in application to a toy power boat, it should be understood that the concept of the invention, namely, to mount the power plant of the toy on the toy boat by means of engageable shoulders on the housing of the power plant and the wall of an opening in the body of the toy, can also be used for other types of power driven toys such as vehicles, aircraft, etc.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy power driven watercraft comprising in combination:

a hull including an opening extending substantially crosswise of the length of the hull and through the entire height thereof, a wall portion of the hull defining said crosswise opening sealing the same against the adjacent space in the hull;

a power unit including a housing having a generally right-angle configuration defining two housing portions, an electric motor in one of said housing portions, the drive shaft of the motor protruding from the end of said housing portion and mounting a propeller, and an electric battery in the other housing portion and connectable to the motor, the housing portion including the battery being open at its end for exchanging the battery therein, said housing being fitted in said hull opening in a position in which the housing portion including the battery is located in said hull opening and the housing portion including the motor is located outside the hull;

self-locking fastening means on the hull wall portion defining said opening and on the housing wall portion including the battery for retaining the housing in its said position in the hull opening; and

closure means for releasably closing the open end of ing portion including the motor being disposed within said recess.

3. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise an inwardly protruding shoulder on the wall portion defining the hull opening, said shoulder being disposed intermediate the height of said wall portion, and an outwardly protruding shoulder on the housing portion including the battery intermediate the length of said housing portion, the shoulder on the housing portion overlying the shoulder on the wall portion thereby locking the housing within the opening.

4. The watercraft according to claim 3 wherein said housing wall portion including the battery mounts on its outside wall at least one radially protruding fin, said housing portion shoulder being on the outside edge of said fin, the edge portion of the fin above the shoulder thereon being inwardly tapered toward the top end of the fin and the parts of said housing wall portion being outwardly tapered above and below the shoulder on said wall portion.

5. The watercraft according to claim 3 wherein the hull wall portion defining said opening is a flexible and springy wall portion whereby the wall portion yields to a radially outward pressure by the shoulder on the housing portion including the battery to permit said housing portion shoulder to pass the shoulder on the hull wall portion when said housing wall portion is inserted into the hull opening from the bottom end thereof but recovers its initial position when the housing portion shoulder has passed the shoulder on the hull wall portion thus placing the housing portion shoulder in said overlying position.

6. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the housing portion including the battery comprises an outwardly protruding flange underlying the bottom edge of the hull wall portion defining said opening, said flange limiting axial upward displacement of the housing relative to the hull.

7. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein said closure means comprise a lid placed on a deck wall of the hull to cover the respective end of the hull opening and the open end of the housing portion including the battery, and releasable locking means on the lid and the top end of said housing portion for releasably attaching the lid to said housing portion.

8. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein said closure means mounts a switch connected in circuit with the motor and the battery, said switch being movable between two extreme positions for switching the motor on and off.

9. The watercraft according to claim 8 wherein retaining means releasably retain the switch in one of said positions. 

1. A toy power driven watercraft comprising in combination: a hull incLuding an opening extending substantially crosswise of the length of the hull and through the entire height thereof, a wall portion of the hull defining said crosswise opening sealing the same against the adjacent space in the hull; a power unit including a housing having a generally right-angle configuration defining two housing portions, an electric motor in one of said housing portions, the drive shaft of the motor protruding from the end of said housing portion and mounting a propeller, and an electric battery in the other housing portion and connectable to the motor, the housing portion including the battery being open at its end for exchanging the battery therein, said housing being fitted in said hull opening in a position in which the housing portion including the battery is located in said hull opening and the housing portion including the motor is located outside the hull; self-locking fastening means on the hull wall portion defining said opening and on the housing wall portion including the battery for retaining the housing in its said position in the hull opening; and closure means for releasably closing the open end of the housing portion including the battery and the hull opening at the respective end thereof.
 2. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein said hull has a bottom wall including an elongate recess extending lengthwise of the hull from the bottom end of the hull opening toward the stern of the hull, the housing portion including the motor being disposed within said recess.
 3. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise an inwardly protruding shoulder on the wall portion defining the hull opening, said shoulder being disposed intermediate the height of said wall portion, and an outwardly protruding shoulder on the housing portion including the battery intermediate the length of said housing portion, the shoulder on the housing portion overlying the shoulder on the wall portion thereby locking the housing within the opening.
 4. The watercraft according to claim 3 wherein said housing wall portion including the battery mounts on its outside wall at least one radially protruding fin, said housing portion shoulder being on the outside edge of said fin, the edge portion of the fin above the shoulder thereon being inwardly tapered toward the top end of the fin and the parts of said housing wall portion being outwardly tapered above and below the shoulder on said wall portion.
 5. The watercraft according to claim 3 wherein the hull wall portion defining said opening is a flexible and springy wall portion whereby the wall portion yields to a radially outward pressure by the shoulder on the housing portion including the battery to permit said housing portion shoulder to pass the shoulder on the hull wall portion when said housing wall portion is inserted into the hull opening from the bottom end thereof but recovers its initial position when the housing portion shoulder has passed the shoulder on the hull wall portion thus placing the housing portion shoulder in said overlying position.
 6. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the housing portion including the battery comprises an outwardly protruding flange underlying the bottom edge of the hull wall portion defining said opening, said flange limiting axial upward displacement of the housing relative to the hull.
 7. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein said closure means comprise a lid placed on a deck wall of the hull to cover the respective end of the hull opening and the open end of the housing portion including the battery, and releasable locking means on the lid and the top end of said housing portion for releasably attaching the lid to said housing portion.
 8. The watercraft according to claim 1 wherein said closure means mounts a switch connected in circuit with the motor and the battery, said switch being movable between two extreme positions for switching the motor on and off.
 9. The watercraft according to claim 8 wherein retaining means releasably retain the switch in one of said positions. 